ST taps CRI for DPA

 

Cryptography Research Inc (CRI) has signed an agreement with STMicroelectronics regarding the use of CRI’s patents for protecting ST’s tamper-resistant chips against Differential Power Analysis (DPA) and related attacks. 

Under the agreement, ST receives the freedom to use CRI’s patents in its products. The license also covers software executing on licensed ST chips, allowing ST’s customers to develop their own security countermeasures without a separate license from Cryptography Research.

DPA is a form of attack that involves monitoring the fluctuating electrical power consumption of a target device and then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets. Strong countermeasures to DPA help protect tamper-resistant chips used in applications such as secure ID, banking, payTV, mass transit and wireless telecommunications. 

CRI has been awarded a portfolio of more than 50 patents covering countermeasures to DPA attacks.